Fire-extinguisher



(No ModeL) A. F. SPAWN.

FIRE EXTINGUISHER. No. 280,410. Patented July 3, 1883.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ABEL F. SPAXVN, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.

FIRE-EXTI NGUISHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 280,410, dated July 3,1883.

I Application filed January 10, 1883. (No model.)

all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I,-ABEL F. SPAWN, a citizen of the United States,residing in Oakland,- Alameda county, State of California, have made andinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Hand or PortableFire-EX- tinguishers, and I do hereby declare that the following is afull, clear, and exact description of my said invention, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings.

My inventionrelates to portable fireeXtinguishing apparatus of the kindor class in which a body of carbonic-acid gas isv generated by chemicalmeans at the time when it I charge of the generated gas, whereby theforce and energy of the stream of gas ejected by the apparatus are thesame at the termination as at the, beginning of the operation; thirdly,to

accelerate the production and discharge of the gas, and thereby greatlyincrease the value and effectiveness of the apparatus.

The following description fullyexplains the nature of my saidimprovements and the man- .ner in which I proceed to construct, apply,

use, and carry out the same, the accompanying drawings being referred toby figures and letters.

In the said drawings, Figure 1 is a general perspective view of myimproved fire-extin guisher ready for use. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectionthrough the centers of the water-cylinders. Fig. 8 is a top view or planof Fig. 1. Fig. 4. shows the stirrup or foot-plate provided at thebottom of the cylinders to hold down and steady the apparatus while thepump is being worked. Fig. 5 illustrates the mode of preparing thecharges of chemicals for the aqueous solutions.

A Bare two cylinders forming independent compartments, each adapted tocontain a body of water. They are joined together by a web, I), and ahandle, 0, attached by ears 0 c to the outside of each cylinder, isprovided fen conveniently handling and carrying the structure.

One of these cylinders is employed to receive the alkali and the otherthe acid, by the combination of which the gas is produced. Thesesubstances are introduced, however, only at the time when the apparatusis to be used. At all other times the cylinders contain nothingbut thewater. The top of each cylinder is partly closedby a permanent part orcover, (I, and partlyby a hinged cover or lid, D, ca-

' pable of being opened to give access to the in- On top of thepermanent part is fixed terior. the means by which the two solutions aredrawn from the cylinders and brought to gether to form the gas. It alsoforms the means by which the generated gas is forced out through theconducting-hose E and nozzle E. This part of the apparatus consists of agenerating chamber or COIDPZIIUHGHtfF, and two long narrow pumpcylinders or tubes, g g, one in each compartment A B, and extending downnearly to the bottom, through horizontal perforated partitions h h,placed across the lower portion of the cylinder-space. Each tube isfitted with a valve and valve plunger or rod, H, the end of which iscarried out through a stuffing-box, h, and is then j oined to across-head, J, with a common handle, K. These tubes areEgle-acti-ngqnnnpgand. as the handle K is vorked up and down theyoperate simultaneously to raise a quantity of the liquid from the twocylinders A B at each stroke and bring them together in the commonreceiver or generator, as I have termed it. This compartment isconnectedto a common outlet-tube, Gr, eXtendingacross from one tube, '9,to the other one, g, and at this point of connection an outlet and acoupling or means to attach the end of a hose, E, is provided.

Upon the outside, and preferably between the two cylinders A B, areprovided two sockets or holding-rings, m, to receive the cans orreceptacles N N, in which are contained the acid and alkali indry-powdered or pulverized form.. These holders are placed on oppositesides of the web or connecting-rib 1) between .the two cylinders and asshown in the draw ings. They consist of two rings, m m, of suitable sizeto receive and hold the receptacles N, which are of cylindrical form,and are closed by a cap or cover, a, to protect the contents fromatmospheric influences. In order to effect a clean and instantaneousdischarge of the contents of these cans or receptacles N at the time ofaction, I form the charge or quantity of the matter, acid, or alkali, asthe case may be, into the form of a cartridge by wrapping or covering itwith oiled or waxed pap er, which, being interposed between the interiorsides of the can and the contained matter or substance, will prevent anyportion from adhering or be coming fixed to the sides. \Vhen the can isinverted over the open top of one of the cylinders A B its entirecontents will be instantly precipitated into the water, no matter howlong the apparatus may have remained inactive, and the full charge isthereby rendered immediately available. The contents of the cans arealso better protected from the air and are not liable to absorb moistureand become caked.

Now, as thus constructed and combined together, the apparatus isoperated as follows: The two cylinders are supplied at all times with aquantity of water, and stand thus charged ready for use. The cans orreceptacles N are also fitted with the charges of the substances, suchas crystallized acid in oneand an alkali, as bicarbonate of soda, in theother. At the time of operation the contents of one can N isprecipitated into the water of one cylinder, A, and that of the othercan into the other cylinder, B, where they fall on the perforatepartitions h, which serve to keep the particles from settling on thebottoms of the cylinders, and also to facilitate and hasten thedissolution as the pumps are set in motion. Power now being applied tothe handle K the tubes draw the water downward th rough the chemicalsand raise the solutions up into the generating compartment, where theyare brought together in about equal quantities as the pumps are kept atwork. By the pressure thus produced and accumulating in this compartmentthe gas is forced out and is continuously discharged from the hose aslong as any solution remains; and the force or energy depending entirelyupon the rapidity with which the handle K is worked, the pressure andstrength of the dis charging stream can be kept constant and be alwaysas effective at the end as at the beginning of the operation.

From the above description of the construction and operation of myapparatus it will be noticed that there is no chemical solution leftstanding in any of the cylinders or compartments to act upon theirjoints and surfaces; that the large cylinders do not receive and are notrequired to withstand any pressure from generated gas, so that they canbe con structed of light material, as they are simple water-tanks; also,that the force of the discharging stream of gas is not obtained from,but is independent of, the gaseous pressure in the generatingchamber, sothat the stream can be more effectively applied and its force maintainedat the same degree.

Having thus fully described my invention,

what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A portable fire-extinguisher wherein are combined twin tanks A B, acommon generating-chamber having an outlet and a hose or a nozzle,pump-cylinders g g, having connection with said generating-chamber andcommunieating with the said tanks for drawing off the contents of saidtanks and ejecting them simul; taneously into said chamber, and across-head to which the pump-cylinder plungers are connected, so as tobe operated together by the movements of said cross-heads, allsubstantially as hereinbefore described, to operate as and for thepurpose set forth.

2. The combination together of the twin tanks A B, each being anindependent com partment, the common generating-chaniber F, mountedthereon, the perforate partitions h h in the said tanks, thepump-cylinders g, having their suction ends carried down into said tanksbelow said partitions and their discharge ends connected to thegenerating-chamber, the reciprocating plungers, and the common crossheadwith an operating-handle, all substantially as hereinbefore described,to operate as set forth.

3. In a portable fire-extinguisher, the combination of twin tanksadapted to hold two independent bodies of water, a connnon generating-chamber mounted on said tanks, and means for drawing off from saidtanks simultaneously and forcing into said chamber equal portions of thesolutions, said means consisting of pump-cylinders 1 reciprocatingplungers H H, a connecting cross-head, and an operating handle,substantially as hereinbefore described.

4. A portable fire-extinguisher consisting of twin tanks A B, havingopenings in the tops covered by lids and united by a web, I), on whichis provided holding means for the removable receptacles, thegenerating-chamber F, mounted on said tanks, pump-cylinders gg, having acommon cross-head and handle to which their plungers are connected, andremovable receptacles N N, to contain charges of an acid and an alkali,substantially as hereinbefore described.

5. In a fire-extinguisher, the combination, with the receptacle N,adapted to be quickly removed and replaced and to hold a charge of anacid or an alkali in a dry state for precipitation into the tank A or B,of a wrapping case or envelope to prevent contact of said charge withany part of the interior surfaces of said receptacle, whereby the wholecharge is easily and quickly dislodged, substantially as hereinbeforedescribed.

ABEL F. SPAXVN.

\Vitnesscs:

EDwn. E. ()snonx, D. SELLEoK.

